Unpopular pink band removed from immigrant licenses

By McClatchy News Service

Published: Friday, March 22, 2013 at 09:34 AM.

RALEIGH — After weeks of criticism from civil rights lawyers and immigrant advocates, the state Department of Transportation revealed Thursday that it has removed an unpopular pink band from the design of driver’s licenses that will be issued, starting next week, to young immigrants participating in a federal program that postpones their deportation.

The new design has the same color scheme and design of a standard Division of Motor Vehicles license, but with added language in red ink that says: “LEGAL PRESENCE / NO LAWFUL STATUS” and “LIMITED TERM.”

A DOT spokesman declined to discuss the criticism of the original design. He said the change made it easier for the DMV to issue the new licenses more efficiently. The design will be similar to those of other licenses issued for limited duration to groups such as visiting students and agriculture workers.

“From our perspective, we wanted to make sure this design would allow for ease of implementation,” said DOT spokesman Mike Charbonneau. “By state law, any temporary license must bear a distinguishing mark on the face. So we’re following the letter of the law in the most efficient way possible.”

The licenses are designed for teens and young adults who were brought into the United States illegally as children or kept in the country illegally after their visas expired. State Transportation Secretary Tony Tata announced in February that they would qualify for driver’s licenses if they have received federal work permits in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The work permits are for two years, and the driver’s licenses will become invalid when the work permits expire.

State and federal officials say the federal deferred-deportation program establishes that the immigrants have “legal presence” in the United States during the two years their deportation is postponed. But the program does not alter their long-term, “lawful status” as illegal immigrants.

RALEIGH — After weeks of criticism from civil rights lawyers and immigrant advocates, the state Department of Transportation revealed Thursday that it has removed an unpopular pink band from the design of driver’s licenses that will be issued, starting next week, to young immigrants participating in a federal program that postpones their deportation.

The new design has the same color scheme and design of a standard Division of Motor Vehicles license, but with added language in red ink that says: “LEGAL PRESENCE / NO LAWFUL STATUS” and “LIMITED TERM.”

A DOT spokesman declined to discuss the criticism of the original design. He said the change made it easier for the DMV to issue the new licenses more efficiently. The design will be similar to those of other licenses issued for limited duration to groups such as visiting students and agriculture workers.

“From our perspective, we wanted to make sure this design would allow for ease of implementation,” said DOT spokesman Mike Charbonneau. “By state law, any temporary license must bear a distinguishing mark on the face. So we’re following the letter of the law in the most efficient way possible.”

The licenses are designed for teens and young adults who were brought into the United States illegally as children or kept in the country illegally after their visas expired. State Transportation Secretary Tony Tata announced in February that they would qualify for driver’s licenses if they have received federal work permits in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

The work permits are for two years, and the driver’s licenses will become invalid when the work permits expire.

State and federal officials say the federal deferred-deportation program establishes that the immigrants have “legal presence” in the United States during the two years their deportation is postponed. But the program does not alter their long-term, “lawful status” as illegal immigrants.

The original DMV design featured a broad, fuchsia-colored band on the license, similar in color to the federal work permit card.